Review: 'Ultraviolet' by R.J. Anderson

Lets just say straight up, Ultraviolet has some of the most beautiful writing I've ever seen in young adult literature.  I'm not exaggerating.  With each turn of the page, my jealousy grew over the brilliance of R. J. Anderson's prose.  The main character, Allison, has a condition called Synesthesia which mixes up the way she perceives the information coming to her through her five senses.  For example, she can see the color of sounds, feel personalities in words and taste when someone is lying.  The descriptions showing the world from Allison's perspective are fascinating.  Here's the twist, what is metaphor to the reader is real to the character.  Brilliant!

Okay, before you get the idea that this book is nothing but description, I should discuss the plot.  After Allison witnesses a freakish event, the police, her parents and her doctors all believe that she holds the key to her rival, Tori's, disappearance.  But when Allison tries to tell them the truth, that Tori disintegrated in front of her while they were fighting, she is committed to a mental hospital.  Allison has struggled with her perceptions of the world her whole life.  While she desperately wants to go home, even she can't be sure that she is not a danger to others.  Her only hope comes from a young researcher, Dr. Faraday, who is the only person who believes she is innocent in Tori’s disappearance. 

Ultraviolet strikes at the heart of the most frightening things a person can imagine--being trapped in a mental hospital, having your family and friends turn against you, self-doubt, isolation and whether or not you are capable of being a killer.  The book also mixes the genres of paranormal, sci-fi, suspense and romance.  There is truly something for all readers in this book.  Even though the protagonist is female, teen boys will enjoy this book just as much as the girls. 

Be on the lookout for this one!  Ultraviolet releases in the U.K. on 2 June 2011, and September for the U.S. 

Overall, I give Ultraviolet...

Plot - 5 bookmarks

Character Development - 5 bookmarks

Sci-Fi Elements - 4 1/2 bookmarks

Love Story - 4 1/2 bookmarks

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Kay Panabaker (Allison), Penn Badgley (Sebastian Faraday), Leven Rambin (Tori), Logan Lerman (Kirk), Igbal Theba (Dr. Minta)